Its a poem right

[joseph s crary]

Beowulf the þeom

Hear you all, of our warriors, as in former-days, the country’s nobles, heard deeds, of how brave men, earned our praise.

It’s often said Scyld of Scef, from enemy troops, of many nations, snatched away their mead-benches, and scattered earls. Yet when first weaned, he was found friendless, to garner and prepare, waxing under cloudy-skies, to grow upright-minded, until to him all tribes, over the whale-roads, did submit with tribute paid; due this great-kingship.

Thereafter to him a child was given, whom when young at court, was seen as god sent to favor folk: for he felt fearful-woe that in those days they went without a leader too long awhile. He that Frea made wonder-ruler, gave earthly-honor; Beowulf was his name and wide-spread his fame, this offspring of Scyld, throughout the southern lands.

Thus as young men must he did good deeds, gave rich flawless gifts to his father's troupe, that when he came of age thereafter they remained as willing-friends; and when war came, they served the people as lofty-fame demands, among each clan and prospered man.

When this Scyld passed at the proper time, he was well resolved to go in Frea's way. So his closest clansmen bore him to the briny froth, as he in-person bid, this wonder-ruler and friend of Scylds, beloved land-giver forever long-remembered.

[joseph s crary]

I find OE a bit more work than Latin


[Line 64]

þa wæs Hroðgare here-spēd gyfen, wiges weorð-mynd, þæt him his wine-magas georne hyrdon, oðð-þæt seo geogoð geweox, mago-driht micel. Him on mod be-arn þæt heal-reced hatan wolde, medo-ærn micel, men gewyrcean þonne yldo bearn æfre gefrunon, ond þær on innan eall gedælan geongum ond ealdum, swylc him God sealde, buton folc-scare ond feorum gumena. Da ic wide gefrægn weorc gebannan manigre mægþe geond þisne middan-geard, folc-stede frætwan. Him on fyrste gelomp, ædre mid yldum, þæt hit wearð eal-gearo, heal-ærna mæst; scop him Heort naman se þe his wordes geweald wide hæfde. He beot ne aleh, beagas dælde, sinc æt symle. Sele hlifade, heah ond horn-geap, heaðo-wylma bad, laðan liges; ne wæs hit lenge þa gen þæt se ecg-hete aþum-sweoran, æfter wæl-niðe wæcnan scolde.


Rendering

Then was Hrothgare, given success in battle, and insight of war's-fame, so that his kin and friends obeyed him gladly, and his ban grew great, this large troupe of young retainers. Then from mind's-eye to mouth a hall-raising order rushed out, a great mead house, master built as man has never known. That there inside to young and old was given, as God gave him, except the common-lands and lives of men. Then wide I heard this work was decreed to many nations throughout the middle-earth, to fashion this folkstead. Yet time fell fast on this human undertaking, as it had ready-stood, this greatest of all hall-houses; so the name Heort was made for it, and with this word might was widely swung. Here was promised no deceit, that rings be given, at the treasure feast. Towering hall high and wide-gabled, whose heated surge bids not the loathsome flame; as not yet near at hand, was oath-sworn sharp-edged hate, thus soon mortal malice would awake.

[joseph s crary]

[Line 99]

Swa ða driht-guman dreamum lifdon eadiglice, oððæt an ongan fyrene fremman feond on helle

Rendering

So noblemen dreamt of life's happiness, till one began to fashion fiendish crimes of hell.

and the following

[Line 104]

Wæs se grimma gæst Grendel haten, mære mearc-stapa, se þe moras heold, fen ond fæsten; fifel-cynnes eard wonsæli wer weardode hwile, siþðan him scyppend forscrifen hæfde in Caines cynne þone cwealm gewræc ece Drihten, þæs þe he Abel slog; ne gefeah he þære fæhðe, ac he hine feor forwræc, metod for þy mane, man-cynne fram.

Rendering

Was as grim spirit Grendel called, or infamous out-stalker, as he held the moor, fen and fast; homeland of monster-kind this ill-favored man dwelt, ever after here the Lord Creator sentenced Cain's kin, for Abel's death; nor did they rejoice in feud, as for this crime, God drove them far, from human-kind.

[joseph s crary]

[Line 456]

Hroðgar maþelode, helm Scyldinga: for gewyrhtum þu, wine min Beowulf, ond for arstafum usic sohtest. Gesloh þin fæder fæhðe mæste, wearþ he Heaþolafe to hand-bonan mid Wilfingum; ða hine Wedera cyn for herebrogan habban ne mihte. Þanon he gesohte Suð-dena folc ofer yða gewealc, Ar-scyldinga ða ic furþum weold folce Deniga, ond on geogoðe heold ginne-rice, hord-burh hæleþa; ða wæs Heregar dead, min yldra mæg unlifigende, bearn Healf-denes; se wæs betera ðonne ic.

Rendering

Hrothgar, helmet of Scyld's people, spoke: To fight in our defense, my friend Beowulf, has in his favor searched us out. Once his father sparked a great blood feud, when by hand he slew Heatholafe while among the Wilfing, his warden folk for fear of war kept him not. From there this honour-Scyid, over the surge of waves sought the South Danes, that’s when I first ruled a Danish folk, and in youth held a widespread realm, and a heroes treasure-town; as then was Heregar dead, my elder brother, and half-Dane's son drew not his breath, for in truth he was a better man than I.

[joseph s crary]

Wulfgār ēode, word inne ābēad: Eow hēt secgan sig-drhten mīn, aldor Ēast-Dena, Þǽs hē ēower ǽÞelu can:

Rendering

Wulfgar went, inside to announce: This victorious lord, bids me say to you, The rulers of the East-Danes, Who are your kin know this man:

[Line 356]

Hwearf þā hrædlīce þǽr Hrōðgar sæt eald ond anhār mid his eorla gedriht; eode ellen-rof, þæt he for eaxlum gestod Deniga frean; cuþe he duguðe þeaw.

Rendering

Quickly now here Hrōthgar sat old and grayed with his earls roundabout; raising in courage-fame, till he at shoulder stood with the Danish lord; good courtier as was he.

[joseph s crary]

Poison Indeed

One of the oldest tricks in the book is give a gift thats something just too good to resist. In Modern English Wealhtheow means foreign-, non-Nordic, or more likely Walsh/Briton hostage-bride. While it’s claimed Weal is the OE/AS term used for all non-Nordic populations, its usage was restricted to only Latin/Celt/Balt speaking people. Most likely lady Wealhtheow was British. Regardless, she was a native princess and her husband Hrothgar was married to her because he and some unnamed native ruler required a close personal/hostage/family relationship.

At the time the hostage-marriage was a common Late Roman custom. A fine literary example of such behavior can be found in Gildas Sapiens De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae and the later Beda Venerabilis Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum. Here they provide accounts of how Vortigern /Gwrtheyn Uurtigernus/Uuertigernus or superbo tyranno (high King) entered into a foedus treaty with the barbarian prince Hengest. The land-for-arms deal was sealed with Vortigern’s marriage to one of Hengest’s daughters. Thus Wealhtheow’s husband, Hrothgar was the real foreigner and his stronghold and the great hall of Heorot the outright symbols of his power and might over the natives.

Now let’s set the stage for this Wealhtheow character. First she’s a noble-lady, most likely a princess, also likely a Christian, somewhat educated, somewhat refined, and living amongst a pack of blood-trusty war-driven uncouth nordic-speaking barbarians. If she was a Briton, she believes her marriage to a pagan assured her a special place in hell. In other words she would never be welcome among her own people again. Now, her husband Hrothgar is very old and has just escaped a horrible death at the hands of a hideous monster. She has two under-age sons that are heirs to Heorot, and both are under the dubious protection of Hrothu, Hrothgar’s live-in nephew. And…..yes Hrothu would shortly try to usurp Hrothgar and yes everyone in the hall when Wealhtheow gave Beowulf the victory gift knew he was just waiting for the right moment to strike. Not a very cum-ba-ya situation thus far?

Right, here comes this Beowulf fellow, which she may have secretly wished the monster would have got, rather the other way round. Yet here the monster-slayer stands unscathed. Seeing the weakness of Hrothgar and Heorot does she think he’ll leave to return with more men, as did the historic Hengest (the stallion) to kill her husband and two young sons, loot and burn the hall and stronghold and in effect end her good fortune? This is the reason she has the Fight at Finnsburg story told. Now to top it all off, Norse tradition demanded she give Beowulf a highly-prized victory gift for gratitude.

So what did the high-born Wealhtheow give him. Of coarse she could have only given him the Dark Age-man’s equivalent to a computer virus, a poison apple, in other words something she knew he was powerless to resist but in the end would kill him. She gave him a very special family artifact possibly a heirloom; yes a gold Torc. This didn’t make much sense until I remembered the account of the Battle of Telemon:

Polybius, Histories: chapter 129, book 2

My translation

[line 7] Shocking were the gestures and gyrations of unclad warriors in the front ranks, upon whom were expressed chiseled features, and foremost among these men were sowed those wearing only golden torcs and armlets. The Romans who witnessed this were unnerved by the commotion, yet doubly spurred on to action by expectations of the plunder due.

This ancient gift would have been highly prized, one Beowulf would have wanted to wear to show his favor and renown, and one that would have made him the target of every wannabe hero on the battle field. In fact Beowulf unwittingly gives the Torc to his overlord, Hygelac/Chlochilaicus who wears it into Frisia, battle, and history (AD 516) as he was killed by the Franks, and its at this point the Dark Age world of Beowulf slowly began to unravel.

[joseph s crary]

Line 200

Ofer swan-rade secean wolde mærne þeoden, þa him wæs manna þearf

Rendering

Over the swan-road to seek a mighty prince, as were men he needed now.

Line 306

Guman onetton sigon ætsomne, oþþæt hy sæl timbred, geatolic ond goldfah, ongyton mihton; þæt wæs foremærost Fold-buendum receda under roderum, on þæm se rica bad; lixte se leoma ofer landa fela.

Rendering

Men hasten moving on together, until they sense, the splendid built and gold-lined hall; where under heaven the foremost among earthly-persons dwell, where the rich reside; and as a light shines over many lands.